Phone Support
At Rainbow Communications, we’re here to ensure you stay connected. If you have questions about your phone service, we’ve got answers.
Affordable Phone Service for Those Who Need It Most
Kansas Lifeline Program
At Rainbow Communications, we believe everyone deserves access to essential communication services. That’s why we proudly participate in the Kansas Lifeline Program—a federal and state-supported initiative that helps make phone or internet service more affordable for qualifying households.
What is Lifeline?
Lifeline is a monthly discount program available to low-income consumers. Eligible customers can receive up to $17.02 off their monthly local telephone or internet bill. The Enhanced Tribal Benefit is a monthly discount up to $34.25 for eligible subscribers living on Tribal lands.
Who Qualifies?
You may be eligible for Lifeline if you participate in any of the following programs:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Tribal Assistance Programs, including:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribal TANF
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Tribal Head Start (must meet income standards)
- Free School Lunch Programs (tribally administered)
You may also qualify based on household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
| 1 | $21,546 |
| 2 | $29,214 |
| 3 | $36,882 |
| 4 | $44,550 |
| 5 | $52,218 |
| 6 | $59,886 |
| 7 | $67,554 |
| 8 | $75,222 |
Each Add’l Person +$7,668
Documentation Required:
Provide either:
- Three consecutive months of income statements, or
- A copy of your most recent tax return.
Ready to Apply?
You can apply for the Lifeline program online through the official federal website:
Need assistance? Our team is happy to help.
Call Rainbow Customer Service at 800-892-0163
Or stop by one of our local offices for personal support.
Rainbow Communications: Helping neighbors stay connected.
Because everyone deserves access to reliable, affordable service—no matter where you live.
Phone Issues After a Storm?
Here’s What to Do
Cordless phones are vulnerable to lightning and may get damaged during thunderstorms. If your phone stops working after a storm:
- Unplug all cordless phones.
- Plug in a corded phone to test the line.
- If the corded phone works, reconnect your cordless phones one at a time to identify any faulty devices.
Backup Power for Home Phone Service
Stay connected when the power goes out.
At Rainbow, your safety matters to us. That’s why we want to ensure you understand how to stay connected to 911 emergency services—even during a power outage. Many of today’s home phone services rely on electricity, so if your power goes out, your home phone may not work unless you have backup power.
We offer backup battery options to help you maintain service when it matters most.
Why a Backup Battery Matters
A backup battery allows your Rainbow home phone service to work during a power outage. Without one or an alternate power source like a generator, you will not be able to make or receive calls, including 911.
Our backup battery supports only voice services. It does not power internet, TV, or other home equipment.
Corded vs. Cordless Phones
If your home uses devices that rely on voice service, like:
- Home security systems
- Medical monitoring devices
- TTY for the hearing impaired
Those devices may also stop working during a power outage unless they have their own battery backup or are plugged into an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). These backup solutions are available from most electronics retailers.
Backup Battery Options
You can purchase a backup battery for your Rainbow voice service through us.
- 8-hour battery: Approx. $65
- Extended options: Upgrade to a 24-hour battery or purchase additional 8-hour units if needed
Not comfortable installing the battery yourself? Give us a call and we’ll help! Installation service is available—fees may apply.
Call 800-892-0163 to order or schedule installation.
What to Expect from Your Battery
- Talk time: Up to 6 hours
- Standby time: At least 8 hours
- Lifespan: Typically, 3–8 years, depending on network type and storage conditions
- Best storage temperature: 32°F to 122°F
📌 Coaxial network customers may see battery life of 6–8 years
📌 Fiber customers should expect 3–5 years of use under normal conditions
Already a Cooperative Member?
If you’re a Rainbow cooperative fiber customer, your household may have received a battery backup during phone service installation. Not sure? Just call us, and we’ll confirm or help you explore your options.
Need Help?
We’re here to answer your questions or help troubleshoot an issue. For assistance, or to purchase or replace a battery, contact us at:
800-892-0163 | support@rainbowtel.com
Voicemail
Voicemail Support
Stay connected and never miss an important message with Rainbow Voicemail. Below, you’ll find everything you need to set up, access, and manage your voicemail.
Getting Started with Rainbow Voicemail
You can download our Voicemail Reference Guide or follow the steps below.
First-time setup:
- You must access your voicemail from your home phone the first time.
- The Rainbow Voicemail system is menu-driven—just dial your voicemail access number and follow the voice prompts.
- Use the keys on your phone to select options.
Voicemail Access Numbers by Community
Find your local voicemail access number and dial it from your home phone:
📍 Atchison: 913-372-1234
📍 Bendena: 785-988-1234
📍 Denton: 785-359-1234
📍 Effingham: 913-330-1234
📍 Everest: 785-548-1234
📍 Hiawatha: 785-740-1234
📍 Highland: 785-444-1234
📍 Horton: 785-487-1234
📍 Huron: 785-847-1234
📍 Lancaster: 913-330-1234
📍 Muscotah: 785-872-1234
📍 Robinson: 785-544-1234
📍 Sabetha: 785-300-1234
📍 Seneca: 785-334-1234
📍 Troy: 785-982-1234
📍 Wathena: 785-990-1234
📍 Whiting: 785-873-1234
📍 Willis: 785-547-1234
Setting Up Your Voicemail
When you call your voicemail for the first time, you’ll hear:
“Welcome to the Subscriber Setup Menu. Initialization will take up to 2 minutes.”
Then, follow these steps:
- Create a PIN:
- Your PIN must be 4-6 digits long.
- It cannot be a repeating or sequential pattern (e.g., 0000, 1111, 1234, 4567).
- It cannot include any part of your home phone number.
- Re-enter your PIN to confirm.
- Record your name as you’d like callers to hear it. The system will play it back—press # to save or 3 to re-record.
- Set up your greeting:
- Record a personal greeting, or select a standard system greeting.
- Press # to accept or 5 to record again.
Changing Your Voicemail Greeting
To update your voicemail greeting:
1. Dial your voicemail access number.
2. From the Main Menu, press 3.
3. To record a new personal greeting, press 1.
4. To select a system-generated greeting or re-record your name, press 3.
5. To change the greeting for when you’re busy, press 5.
If you don’t record a personal greeting, a standard system greeting will play.
New Message Notifications
Depending on your phone model, you may receive a new message alert in one or more of the following ways:
✅ Flashing message indicator light
✅ “New Messages” displayed on caller ID
✅ Stutter tone when you pick up the phone
📌 Message Storage: New and saved messages will remain in your mailbox for up to 14 days before being automatically deleted.
For additional help, check out our Voicemail Reference Guide or contact us at 800-892-0163. We’re happy to help!